Bowling Green Covenant Church

Cheryl was a young Jewish woman who had come to faith in Jesus. Since coming to faith in Jesus life had been difficult for her. Her parents would not talk to her. Her old friends either ignored her or made fun of her for being on that “born again” kick. Even her boyfriend, whom she dated for over five years, dropped her without so much as a good-bye or an explanation. The final insult came when she was turned down for a job she had prayed for in faith believing it was God’s will for her to have it. One day she visited Maggie, the wife of the pastor of the church she attended and told her everything.

When Cheryl finished, Maggie invited her into the kitchen for a cup of tea. As she stood near the teakettle, Maggie asked Cheryl, “What am I holding in my hand?”

“A tea cup and a tea bag, “ answered Cheryl.

“That’s right, “ said Maggie, “What’s missing?”

“That’s easy,” replied Cheryl, “the hot water.”

“So what you’re saying is that without the hot water I can’t make tea, right?”

“Obviously,” said Cheryl, “but what’s that got to do with what I’m going through?”

“Cheryl,” Maggie smiled at her, “Don’t you see it? The teacup is the world. You are the teabag. Do you know what the hot water is?”

“Let me guess,” said Cheryl as she let the answer slowly escape from her mouth, “Trials?”

“Yes! Trials,” said Maggie. “Cheryl, everyone who follows Jesus will face trials. Trials are one of the undeniable truths of the Christian life. I have followed Jesus for 45 years, been married for 30 years, had four kids, two miscarriages, and one bout with breast cancer. And do you what to know what I’ve learned? I have learned that trials are the hot water God uses to brew our faith.”

Cheryl smiled politely. Maggie could tell she wasn’t convinced. “Cheryl, listen to me. I know what you are going through is difficult. You’re stuck in the middle and you can’t see the end. God knows that, dear. But it’s like I said, trials are the hot water God uses to brew our faith. God doesn’t put us in hot water to scald us. He puts us into hot water to release what He has already put into us by His Holy Spirit. He does not test our faith so we can fail. He tests our faith so we can work out what He has put in. Hand me that Bible near the telephone, will you? Thanks, dear. I want to read your something.”

And with that Maggie opened her Bible to the New Testament, the Letter of

James. She read:
“Dear brothers and sisters, when troubles come your way, consider it an opportunity for great joy. For you know that when your faith is tested, your endurance has a chance to grow. So let it grow, for when you endurance is fully developed, you will be perfect and complete, needing nothing.” —James 1.2, 3 [NLT]

“Now, let’s have some tea.”